Utah School Tells Sixth Grade Girls They Can't Say No When Asked To Dance

posted by Bill Galluccio -

Feb 12, 2018

A Utah mother did not believe her daughter when she told her a teacher said she was not allowed to say no if asked to dance by boys at the school's upcoming Valentines Day dance. According to KHQ, Natalie Richard thought her daughter misunderstood what the teacher meant.

"Oh no, no honey," Richard said. "You guys are misunderstanding again. That's not how it is."

It turns out, the sixth-grader understood just fine, and when Richard when to confront the teacher, she was told her daughter was correct.

"The teacher said she can't. She has to say yes. She has to accept, and I said, 'Excuse me.'

Richard's next stop was to speak with the principal, who told her the rule has been in place for years and had never been an issue in the past.

Lane Findlay, a spokesperson for the school district, said the rule is meant to teach inclusiveness to students.

"Please be respectful, be polite,” said Findlay. “We want to promote kindness and so we want you to say yes when someone asks you to dance."

NBC2 explains that when students arrive, they have to fill out a card listing five students they wish to dance with during the event.

Richard's thinks the rule sends the wrong message to young girls.

"Sends a bad message to girls that girls have to say yes, sends a bad message to boys that girls can't say no."

She also says parents were not aware of the rule and asked the principal to send a permission slip home that explains the rules for the dance to both parents and students. The principal agreed but said the rule will remain in effect for this year's dance.